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Lily Odarno

Bio

Lily is an Associate with the Energy Program and Governance Center. She manages the Institute’s energy access policy and planning related engagements in Africa. She works closely with governments, the private sector and civil society to build an understanding of the innovative policy approaches and strategic partnerships needed to promote integrated solutions for energy access that can satisfy demand at a scale capable of driving tangible development benefits.

Prior to joining WRI, Lily’s work involved research and policy analyses in the areas of energy, environment and sustainable development. She previously worked with the UNEP/DTU Partnership in Denmark where she conducted research and provided support to the cleaner energy development program which was focused on building the capacity of key energy stakeholders in developing countries to implement appropriate policies and strategies for promoting energy access.

Lily holds a PhD in Energy and Environmental Policy from the University of Delaware.

Blog Posts

It’s easy to see which households are connected to the grid, but regulatory commissions and utilities often lack information on supply interruptions, voltage levels or blackouts. It's a big reason so many Kenyans don't have reliable power.

More than 180,000 rural residents get electricity through Tanzania's mini-grids. A new WRI report details how this promising technology has expanded, and examines its potential for other sub-Saharan nations.

Electricity planners often confront the energy access gap by increasing supply, without considering how consumers actually use and pay for electricity. Creating a lasting solution is actually far more complicated.

Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing economies on the planet, but the lack of affordable, reliable energy could challenge continued economic and social development. Distributed power generation could be part of the solution.

Publications

For communities across sub-Saharan Africa, a consistent and affordable supply of electricity can open new possibilities for socioeconomic progress. Mini-grids—electrical generation and distribution systems of less than 10 megawatts—can play a role. These decentralized technologies are expected...

Access to electricity is recognized as fundamental to development, and many efforts are under way across developing countries to scale up access, both in terms of providing basic supply and enabling people to move up through the energy tiers. However, it has become apparent that providing a...

10 Questions to Ask about Distributed Generation, a collaboration between WRI, WWF and Prayas (Energy Group), is part of the 10 Questions to Ask Series and provides a framework for stakeholder engagement...

Maps & Data

Tanzania Energy Access Maps is an interactive tool that allows users to explore economic indicators and energy sector data in Tanzania’s regions and districts. Energy entrepreneurs and electricity planners in Tanzania can use the maps to identify areas most viable for investments in clean energy.